Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

Independent/Dependent Clauses

When you want to use commas and semicolons in sentences and when you are concerned about whether a sentence is or is not a fragment, a good way to start is being able to recognize dependent and independent clauses.

Independent clause – A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent is often a sentence.

For example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

There are two types of words that can be used as connector at the beginning of an independent clause:

Coordinating conjunctions – The seven coordinating conjunctions used as connecting words at the beginning of an independent clause are and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. When the second independent clause in a sentence begins with a coordinating conjunction, a comma is needed before the coordinating conjunction.

For example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, but it was hard to concentrate because of the noise.

Independent marker word – A connecting word used at the beginning of an independent clause, like also, consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, and therefore. When the second independent clause in a sentence has an independent marker word, a semicolon is needed before the independent marker word.

For example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz; however, it was hard to concentrate because of the noise.

Dependent clause – A group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.

For example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz…

Dependent marker words are words added to the beginning of an independent clause that make it a dependent clause such as after, although, as, as if, because, before, even f, even though, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

For example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz…

(Without the word When, this would be a complete sentence and an independent clause; with When, it becomes a dependent clause. A reader would ask, “When what?”)